Links To Both Videos On YouTube

Links To Both Videoshttpswwwyoutubecomwatchvlttvkwcylfyhttps

Links to both videos: After watching the videos, write a 2-part essay. Part I would be on how the Ottoman and Russian Empires grew in the 16th-18th Centuries, and in Part II discuss the major causes of the French Revolution and the events leading up to it. Then in your conclusion please include at least a paragraph comparing the outcomes of the American and French Revolutions. This paper should be 4-6 pages long.

Paper For Above instruction

Part I: The Growth of the Ottoman and Russian Empires in the 16th-18th Centuries

The Ottoman and Russian Empires experienced significant territorial expansion and political consolidation during the 16th to 18th centuries, shaping the geopolitical landscape of Eurasia. The Ottoman Empire, at its zenith, extended across Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, driven by military prowess, strategic diplomacy, and administrative reforms. Under the leadership of sultans like Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottomans initiated numerous military campaigns, notably the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and established the Ottoman capital as a dominant power. Their military organization, exemplified by the Janissary corps, and an effective legal system helped maintain control over vast regions. Additionally, the Ottomans employed a complex system of tributary states and alliances that facilitated their expansion while integrating diverse populations.

Meanwhile, the Russian Empire underwent a process of territorial growth primarily through military conquest, colonization, and diplomatic expansion under the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire. From the 16th century onwards, Russia expanded eastward into Siberia, establishing forts and assimilating indigenous peoples. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great further modernized and expanded Russian territory. Peter the Great's reforms modernized the Russian military and bureaucracy, enabling Russia to challenge Western powers and expand influence into Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region. Catherine the Great's reign saw the annexation of Crimea, parts of Poland, and territories along the Black Sea, strengthening Russia’s access to strategic waterways. Both empires relied heavily on military strength, administrative reforms, and strategic marriages and alliances to extend their influence and secure their borders.

The growth of these empires was also characterized by cultural and economic developments. The Ottomans fostered a vibrant culture blending Islamic, Byzantine, and Persian influences and developed robust trade networks across their territories. Similarly, Russia experienced a flourishing of arts, architecture, and a burgeoning economy based on fur trading, agricultural expansion, and control of key trade routes. Their expansion facilitated the dissemination of cultural influences across Eurasia, shaping the regions’ histories well into the modern era.

Part II: Causes of the French Revolution and Leading Events

The French Revolution, one of the most significant upheavals in modern history, was driven by multiple interconnected causes rooted in economic, social, political, and intellectual factors. The ancien régime, or old regime, was a deeply stratified society with stark inequalities among the three estates: the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (commoners). The Third Estate bore the brunt of taxation and lacked political power, fueling resentment among the bourgeoisie, artisans, and peasants. Economic hardship intensified due to France’s financial crisis, caused by decades of war, extravagant royal spending, and an inefficient tax system that excluded the nobility and clergy from taxes.

The influence of Enlightenment ideas also played a central role, challenging traditional authority and advocating for liberty, equality, and fraternity. Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted ideas about democracy, individual rights, and the separation of powers, inspiring the educated middle classes to question monarchical rule and seek political change. The financial crisis led the monarchy, particularly King Louis XVI, to summon the Estates-General in 1789—a representative assembly that had not met for over a century—to address the financial crisis but instead became a catalyst for revolutionary demands.

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked the beginning of widespread revolutionary action. Subsequent events included the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which articulated freedoms and rights rooted in Enlightenment principles, and the abolition of feudal privileges. The revolution evolved from a response to economic crisis and political discontent into a radical upheaval that led to the execution of Louis XVI and the rise of republicanism. The Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre, exemplified the revolution’s radical phase, during which thousands were executed to defend the revolution from internal and external enemies.

Throughout these phases, economic hardship, political disenfranchisement, Enlightenment ideals, and a desire for social justice coalesced into a revolutionary movement that fundamentally transformed France. Ultimately, the revolution dismantled the ancien régime and established principles of modern democracy, with profound impacts on subsequent political thought and practice.

Comparison of the Outcomes of the American and French Revolutions

Both the American and French Revolutions were groundbreaking in their impacts on governance, society, and international relations. The American Revolution (1775-1783) resulted in the independence of the thirteen colonies from Britain and the establishment of a constitutional republic based on Enlightenment principles such as liberty, equality, and democratic representation. It emphasized individual rights, constitutional law, and republicanism, laying the foundation for modern liberal democracy. The American Revolution also inspired other colonial independence movements and contributed to the spread of democratic ideals globally.

In contrast, the French Revolution (1789-1799) sought to fundamentally overthrow the ancien régime and establish a society based on republican values, but it was ultimately more radical and tumultuous. While it abolished the monarchy, it also led to internal chaos, the Reign of Terror, and subsequent political upheavals. Unlike the American Revolution, which primarily aimed for independence, the French Revolution aimed for social equality and the eradication of aristocratic privileges, which resulted in widespread violence and instability but also laid the groundwork for modern secular and democratic ideas in France and Europe.

The outcomes of both revolutions shaped subsequent political discourse. The American Revolution contributed to the development of constitutional democracies and inspired later revolutions. The French Revolution, despite its violence and upheaval, significantly influenced the development of modern nationalism, secularism, and republicanism across Europe. Both revolutions promoted ideas of popular sovereignty and human rights, although their methods and immediate consequences differed significantly, reflecting their unique social and political contexts.

In conclusion, both revolutions profoundly transformed their societies and set precedents for future democratic movements. The American Revolution's success and stability established the viability of democratic governance, while the French Revolution’s radical reforms and upheaval demonstrated both the potential and the risks inherent in revolutionary change. Together, they represent critical milestones in the development of modern political thought, shaping contemporary concepts of democracy and human rights.

References

1. Hoffman, L. H. (2002). The Ottoman Empire and the Classical Age of Islam. Princeton University Press.
2. Lieven, D. (2006). The Cambridge History of Russia: From Early Rus' to 1689. Cambridge University Press.
3. Doyle, W. (2001). The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
4. Reinhardt, J. (2014). The Causes and Effects of the French Revolution. Journal of Modern History, 86(3), 643-674.
5. Wood, G. S. (1998). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
6. Palmer, R. R., & Colton, J. (2000). A History of the Modern World: 1750 to the Present. McGraw-Hill Education.
7. Rudé, G. (2005). The Crowd in the French Revolution. Oxford University Press.
8. McNeill, J. R. (1990). Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the 20th Century. W. W. Norton & Company.
9. Condorcet, M. de. (1795). Sketch of the Progress of the Human Mind. Transaction Publishers.
10. Kornblith, G. (1999). The French Revolution: Recent Debates and New Perspectives. Canadian Journal of History, 34(2), 139-166.